Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Lies and Lying Liars

Why do we lie? We know that all the politicians lie, and we know why they lie. They are trying to be everything to everybody. But, why do the rest of us lie? And, we do, you know, much of the time, and some people lie all the time. And, they lie when the truth would be easier.

I was in one of the shops that sold the Playtex brand in Branson a few years ago, looking for, ahem, an undergarment. I wanted a specific item, one I had been buying for years. I didn't find it, so I asked the saleswoman about it, and she said, "Oh, they don't make that one any more." Fortunately, I knew she was lying, because that particular item was in a Springfield Penney's ad in the local paper.

So, why did she lie? She was hoping that I would cave in and buy something she and I both knew I wouldn't like, because, if my preference was no longer available anywhere, then I'd have to change to another one, and buy it there. But, does that excuse the lie? In my humble opinion, no.

"Does this make me look fat?" The answer to this question is always, ALWAYS, "No." It doesn't matter if it is a lie or not. If it's a lie, it's just, well, a fib, or a little white lie. It spares someone's feelings, and besides, who needs all that drama at 7 a.m.?

"Did you check my brakes?" This kind of question requires the truth. Not, "I think Bubba did that." If you didn't check them, say so. I'll forgive you and you can drive the car back in and do it now. All I will have lost is some time, as opposed to, say, my life.

But, the worst lies, it seems to me, are told by the television news media.

Truman Capote stated years ago not in these exact words, that "all news would eventually be nothing more than gossip." And, what is news these days but gossip, insinuation, speculation and exaggeration? They make the most outrageous statements purported to be fact and then constantly have to backtrack and correct themselves. Meanwhile the damage is done.

I wish they would go back to reporting the news and backing it up with at least 2 sources verifying it.

And, of course, there are the charities.

Remember what happened after 9/11, when the United Way was supposed to disburse funds collected to the victims and their families? Hundreds of Millions of dollars, and where did all of it go? We'll never really know. We do know that some of it went to people who lied about being victims. We can probably assume that some of the money went into the pockets of the people administering the funds.

Another example of fraud on both sides of a catastrophe is Katrina. What a mess that was. And, it is ongoing.

So, who do you believe?

Personally, I believe anyone who tells me I don't look fat in what I'm wearing. That, my friends, is an honest man.

19 comments:

what i hate about the NEWS is you get a "repoter" and two expert and report ask no. 1 for his opinion, while he is talking no 2 expert start screaming over the other. since when can not adults talk and disagree with out shouting. also have you noticed how they will have a male reporter and a female reporter. they don't set behind desk any more. they set in chairs and the female has her nylon incased legs moving all the time. the truth is they all make me sick.

its beyond me why the newspapers lie so much, i think they do it in the hope that they will sell more papers, but in the end they end up getting sued so it costs them money.we are a nation that want and deserve the truth

Two girls at school lied to me...and I caught them in their tale. I told them they were what I would call a.....LIAR. They looked astounded like the tag did not fit them. NO I forgot they both said. I told them I had been around 6th graders for 35 years and I knew a lie when I heard one. I guess kids think...what is ok for older folks is ok for the young ones!

I sometimes lie just so that I can tell the person what they want to hear so that they'll leave me alone. It's for convenience really.

Just this morning a girl that I cannot stand called me early in the morning when I was on my way to work and wanted to know if I had a resentment against her. Well, I didn't have time or the energy to go into a diatribute about what a crazy bitch she is and how I wanted her to lose my number, so I just said "no, I don't have anything against you" and we got off the phone - pure convenience.

What a great post Betty. I don't know why people find it easier to lie than to tell the truty...convenience? We've become a nation of manipulators...and our government has set the standard. A lot of us refuse to go along with it. I just hope there are a lot more of US than THEM....it may be the only thing that will save us.

How about the Hurricane Katrina funds that went to victims who misspent the funds on Lincoln Navigators and brand-name clothing? Happened in my neighborhood with about five Katrina relocations who ended up here. What a bunch of losers they were. Grrrr....

But, about the news, while I was on vacation I didn't watch television, instead listened to radio in the car. When I got back home and turned on the television "news", I really noticed how much "news" was entertainment and how little was news. I wonder if I'll ever go back to watching CNN or if I'll stick with NPR from here on out.

About Me

This blog used to be called "Old Dog, New Trick", but it doesn't seem to fit, somehow. Oh, I'm still old, but I learned this new trick (blogging) years ago, so it's an old trick, now. Anyway, I love to read, watch movies, blog, travel whenever possible and gamble (slots). I tend to think everyone is entitled to my opionion, so you'll read a lot of that here. Feel free to disagree, nicely.